Tuesday, September 29, 2009

I have just added some Make-It one page 12 x 12 scrapbook pages to my My Website. Literally all you have to do is adhere it together and add your own photos. 2 very fun pages. One Halloween and one Christmas. The Christmas one has room for lots of photos. For larger image click on the photo. Take a look and leave me a message in my new guestbook page. All comments and suggestions are valued.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Ok so my son is going to kill me. Several of you have emailed me saying that you would like to see pictures of Dave the Cable guy (my son)... tying a bow using the bow-easy. Honestly this was not rehearsed. I just wanted to see if anyone who has no interest what so ever in crafting could tie a bow with this gadget with just a couple instructions. I don't know who was more surprised, Dave the Cable Guy or me. He didn't inherit his mother's crafty gene at all. After he sees his picture plastered all over my blog, I may have to change the locks on my doors, phone number, email addresses, etc. LOL

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Hi everyone! Hope your Sunday Afternoon was more productive than mine. Yep! I had to have a nap this afternoon. No wonder I can't get anything done. LOL. I have had this card finished for a couple days now, but the weather wouldn't co-operate for me to go outdoors and take the picture. I have used the sketch from PTW sketch 24. The papers I have used are from last year's Debbie Mumm Holiday Mat Stack. The images are digi found on the D.A.I.S.E website for free download. I down loaded them and colored them. Thought it would make a cute card. Added a little glitz and glitter and it was finished.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Happy Thursday Morning All!Hope you all are having a wonderful day!Thursday is challenge day at: Charisma Cardz

Big thanks to all who joined our "Flower Power" Challenge this past week. Your creations were awesome!

This week our challenge has been set by our DT member Vee!She has chosen the theme:"Getting Sporty"!Now anyone that knows me knows those words alone gives me the shivers because I don't have a sporty fiber in my body, so this was a real challenge for me, however it was a fun one. When I am in doubt as to what to do, I usually revert back to my favorite subject Miss V and a scrapbooking page. I had just finished her soccer pages from this summer when I read the set challenge. I could go on forever about Miss V, but lets just say I didn't miss a game, rain or shine and it was a hoot, watching those 4-yr-olds play! They get so easily distracted. My Miss V came off the field during the game because she wanted to say hi to a baby in the sidelines. LOL. The coaches weren't too happy about it, but were very good natured.

The first page is very simple. I scored the background cardstock with my "scorepal" then sanded the score lines. Next I drew a soccer ball and put pictures in it cut into shapes. Note the picture of Miss V with her tongue between her teeth! Real concentration there. LOL Added a couple embellies and it was finished.

Next: Thumbs Up: Goalie This one I have to confess is a digital scrapbook page. However I did add the embellishments separately. Hope you enjoyed looking at these as much as I did making them.

Now that you have seen mine and how easy it is hurry on over to Charisma Cardz to get all the details. Can't wait to see what you create this week. Can you top last week's entires? LOL

Monday, September 21, 2009

Sorry for 2 posts so close together. I just wanted to let you know that I just received shipment of the hard to get Bow Easy. If you have not used this item and have difficulty tying bows it is a must have. You can tie 7 different sizes with it. I now carry it on my web site. http://sallyscards.weebly.com

Just to let you know how easy it is, I gave it to my son, the cable guy who has no crafting skills what so ever quick instructions and he tied the perfect bow. He was pretty darn proud of himself. (I wasn't supposed to tell you that) LOL.

I finally took the plunge and made a new website. I closed down my old one as I feel this new one will reflect more of who I am and what I want to do. It is a work in progress, but thought you might like to take a look around. Please feel free to give me any advice good or bad. It is not taken lightly. This is a new venture for me and I am willing to learn anything I can. Thank you all for your support in answering my previous post, it helped me to make my decision. http://sallyscards.weebly.com

Friday, September 18, 2009

I got up this morning feeling pretty good about myself and life in general, knowing that God was still in control and you guessed it, from there my faith has certainly been tested, not to mention that my blood pressure must be skyhigh from the feel of the headache I have acquired. It was such a simple thing. As most of you in blogland know, I have been sick most of the summer with this excruciating pain that comes and never leaves but does become tolerable. Anyway I am a patient at the world renoun "Cleveland Clinic", says she tongue and cheek. My doctor has been out of the office for a few months and I have been sent from doctor to doctor with nothing defenitive about my situation. I had called the clinic and tried to set up an appt for when my doctor was due back, but they were not sure so they weren't making appts. Anyway I called again this morning as I need some medication refills and thought the best way to get those would be to make an appt. My doctor is back but the earliest appt is mid-November for an established patient. I didn't bother to ask if they had a new patient visit. That must be July 2010. Now one of the medications I am on, has severe withdrawl symptoms. I went through that once, not pleasant so I really don't want to go through it again. Anyway they said they could send me to see another doctor in another city. I thought not again! So as graciously as I could I declined. Then I was made to feel like an absolute idiot for not accepting the appt. They don't seem to get it! Those doctor's don't like to refill another doctor's prescriptions. arrrgh! So after getting off the phone I sat here and calmed down all the while asking God to help me get through this, just one more time. I got the phone book down, called another clinic facility, (not Cleveland Clinic) and literally interviewed them. I asked tons of questions and finally decided to make an appt with a PCP there. I have an appt next Friday, but could have had one today, but I needed to call my insurance to see if they are participating in my program. Thankfully they are. I was very thankful that it all went so smoothly. Then my cell phone rings.... It was Cleveland Clinic. It was my doctor's scheduler. She was instructed by my doctor to call and schedule an appt for Monday. I told her thank you, but no I had already made preparations to change PCP's to another facility completely. She really got upset. I told her to tell my doctor at CC and to make it abundantly clear, it is not my doctor there, it is the policies of CC that I am tired of. If my doctor were at anyother facility. I would follow her up to 3 cities away. I want to make sure that my doctor understands it has nothing to do with her so I will be sending her a letter to explain that to her once I calm down.

Thanks for listening to me. Oh, By the way Cleveland Clinic is always right, they NEVER make mistakes, like calling the wrong number and leaving a message. LOL

Thursday, September 17, 2009

This week WOJ has a challenge sketch that really had me scratching my head. I had a lot of trouble with all the papers, but finally decided this was as good as it was going to get. It really is much prettier in real life than the photo and I don't know why. I just love this image. Reminds me of a friend of mine who still makes homemade bread weekly. I didn't put any text on it as I wasn't sure what I wanted to use it for, but I just might send it to my friend to let her know that I have been thinking about her.

Now you may not agree with me, but I believe that with all my being with this card. I started this card yesterday afternoon, when my blogging DT Buddy Vee, which can be seen here (she has a link to the instructions) sent me the instructions for this awesome layout. I got out my cardstock, cut out the card, got my Designer paper and started to work. I had something so different in mind for this card, but then we got the call that my SIL's mother passed away. After that I didn't feel like crafting so put it aside. This morning I got up still down because of the news. I walked in my computer room and there sat that card. Half finished. I sat down and the next thing I know the card was complete. As I looked at it I wondered how that happened. I never had a thought of making it into a sympathy card, but it turned out beautifully. I am sure it will be one that my SIL will cherish.

It was made using Desiger paper from Autumn Leaves Manhatten collection, Prima flowers, The Sympathy stamp is by Paper Inspirations. I masked off the verse that was beside the Sympathy. Stamped just that, then masked off sympathy and stamped the verse to be used on the back flap. The cross is embossed with metallic silver embossing powder by Judikins, The verse on top and bottom of the long inside part is Psalms 23, which I generated on the computer.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

I have no idea what is happening to me lately but I have been using colors that I don't normally use and I am lovin' them. I ordered this digi stamp from Sweet N Sassy Stamps. I just love it. I have never colored fruit before, because I thought it was too hard. I was pretty proud of how well it turned out. I even experimented with Indian corn. LOL. I have decided that I will enter it in the challenge at Sweet Stop Sketches. Great sketches. I know I have tweeked the sketch a little to fit my card. I hope it's ok, but even if it isn't I still had fun!

As some of you know, I have a little website that I sell things on from time to time. I have never really invested much time trying to make it a productive sales site, but with the economy being the way it is....hubby and I had a discussion and of course he is right. Not that I conceeded that to him at all. LOL.

Anyway, when I post things for sale on my website, I post them as near to cost as I can get them. I really only want to recoup my money so I can continue to purchase the things I like to use. I don't post anything on my web that I don't use. If I like it then I'm willing to share.

A few of the things I have been toying with adding are: Glue Glider Pro and the refills, packages of Michael's bridal table confetti in multi colors. I think I have at least 6-8 colors and there would be at least 20 of each color in the package for around 2.50 - 3.00 and lastly the bow easy, which I have already ordered. I love that little gizmo. It is the neatest thing for making tiny bows I have ever seen. You can just almost mass produce them. Of course postage will always be exactly what the post office charges me as I hate paying postage. There will never be any handling charges. Exact postage only. Can you please let me know what you think. I really do value each of your opinions, or maybe I should just close my website?

Thanks bunches.Sally

Update:From reading the first comment I can see that I didn't make myself clear. I am not running a website to make a profit only to be able to buy supplies to craft with. I am sure I am not the only out there in blogland who loves to craft but finds it increasingly difficult to purchase supplies because of a fixed income. It is my one release from stress that I have and I'd hate to have to give it up, so if I can share what I purchase at reasonable prices with my fellow crafters that is what I want. I am not setting myself up to fail as there is no failure to it. I don't want to sell things that I have not tried and found that they truly do work and do what they say they will do. So many times I have purchased things only to toss them away because of not working as touted. As far as handling goes. I just can't justify it. I know it takes time to package and ship, but that is the least I can do for my customer. I appreciate their buying their product from me so why not show them in some small way that I really do appreciate it and what better way to charge them 1.95 that the post office charges rather than 4.95 shipping and handling for the same product? A lot of times I don't buy because the shipping is more than the item I want to purchase or half as much. I'd rather sell 10 items at postage cost than one item at 4.95. Also the post office will pick my packages up for free and I can use their mailers for free if the item is more than 4.95 and fits into that size mailer.

I am sure all the phychologists would say there is an underlying reason.

Anyway onto my book marker. I was really down in the dumps today and I didn't want to babysit, however it is good for me that I do have Miss V, but I also wanted some "ME" time. I guess I'm a little selfish. Yesterday I was visiting Bee Crafty Blog. She had the cutest little stack of digi books for free download. I just couldn't resist. Once I finished it I realized it also qualifies for the Just Magnolia challenge this week, which is a Magnolia image and embossing. I used the cuttlebug and embossed the layer behind the books, then sanded it. Then I found out it also fit the Paper Play Challenge which was no patterened paper. Who would have thought I could enter so many challenges with one ity bity bookmarker?

Friday, September 11, 2009

I had been at the hospital since 5:30 this morning and just got home. My mom came through surgery with flying colors. The doctor says she is doing great and will get to go home in another hour. She will have to take it easy today, but tomorrow she can resume her normal lifestyle.

I really wanted to let all of you know how much she appreciated your kind words, prayers and thoughts for her. I knew she would be nervous so I took all the names and messages with me this morning and read them to her. She said to thank you so much, it made her feel so much better to know that she was in your prayers. I too thank you from the depths of my heart. I have such wonderful blogging friends out there in blogland. It's nice to know that you are not alone. Thank youSally

Thursday, September 10, 2009

It is when I let my mojo run wild with a non-traditional card and this is it.I love this image by WOJ and since their color scheme was

orange and teal I did my unusual card.Actually I love it! Does that surprise anyone?

It certainly wouldn't surprise my family. LOLAnyway odd or not I decided to enter it in the WOJ challenge this week.

I colored my image with copics. Found some K&Co paper and some Basic Grey paper that I liked to make my background. Added a few prima and Keiser Craft flowers. Some ribbon , a few Martha Stewart branches. I then sprayed some rose centers orange with Orange Juice Memories Mists

Squiggle Stamps carry a unique range of cute and whimsical stamps designedby a talented team of illustrators All our stamps are made from deeply etched natural red rubber - Stamps aresupplied as untrimmed rubber giving you the option to use them as they arewith an acrylic block and adhesive or attaching them to a mountingmaterial such as EZ Mount or Kling On We look forward to bringing you many more new designs over the coming months

For some reason I always have trouble with patchwork. I love it, but never know what to do with it. This time I have made a baby card using using paper from SU and a WOJ image that I colored with copics then went over with shimmerz. Love the affect of the stuff. I seldom ever use peel offs, but for some reason this card begged for them, so I dragged the box down from the very tippy top shelf and found some that were suitable. I was pretty pleased with the outcome. Added some faux stitching and some dots (that I sell on my website ) . The new baby stamp has no name so it is probably a garage sale find.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

As you know this past week-end for all of us here in the US was Labor Day weekend, and what better way to spend the weekend than EATING, visiting with family and friends and catching up on all the latest family gossip. Believe me my family did just that. I think we had a marathon eating weekend. We started on Sunday with my Dad's reunion. It is always a biggie and so much food. The first picture isn't even half of the food that was there.

At my dad's reunion we always have a white elephant auction to help cover the cost of renting a hall to have the reunion in. My son is not so happily showing of his new purse.

From that one on Sunday we went to my hubby's family's on Monday for our annual cook-out. We didn't even let the rain drops keep us from eating.

My son and me.

After my hubby's family cook out we moved across the street from my MIL to my cousin's house for our annual weenie roast. Needless to say, by this time the rain was really coming down, but that didn't stop us. I took an umbrella and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over the open fire for all those who were chicken to get wet. I looked like a drowned rat and I am so thankful no one took my picture. I cooked hot dogs for all the older family so they wouldn't get wet and chilled. We also had sno cones and smores! What a way to end the summer holidays. I don't think I need to eat again for a month. It is No wonder I can't lose weight.

My granddaughter and my cousin's granddaughter having fun with the fan! Oh to be children. Not a care in the world.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Hello!And welcome to The Divine InfluenceA new blog that aims to bring you all the wonderful crafty inspirations from around the globe!We will be showcasing various creations from all walks of life at every opportunity we can!Now.... do you think your crafty creations are Divine?? if so! we'd love to hear from you!If you are happy for your creations to be featured on The Divine Influence please comment on their bog The Divine Influence (Just say 'yes pls' or 'I'd love to be featured' whatever you like!Alternatively you can e-mail us at Justdivine@live.co.ukThere is no guarantee that you will be featured but the Divine Gals can look through your blogs listed here knowing that we have permission to feature you!And of course! if we do decide to feature you we'll sure to let you know!!So..... Do YOU have The Divine Influence???

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Don't you wish it would be that easy to prevent Swine Flu? I saw this on Cindy's Blog and just had to "borrow" the idea from her. I flipped mine the opposite direction and next time I will make it a tad larger. They say preventing H1 N1 is as easy as washing your hands or sanitizing them (not sure I agree with that seems there has to be more) so I have included a small bottle of hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipe, chapstick, tissues and cough drop. I will be sending one of these to school with Miss V on Wednesday.The paper I have used is SU, but I can't remember the name as I used the cardboads. LOL

Saturday, September 5, 2009

I have had this stamp set for awhile now from Sweet n Sassy Stamps, but have not used it until now. I love lighthouses. It looks like I am going to have to practice on my spraying technique for my Tattered Angels sprays. Any suggestions.This was made using papers from my stash, with no name so I have no idea who manufactured them. I used copic markers for coloring and Tattered angels Jazz Blue Glimmer Mist for the sky.I have entered this in Sweet Stop Sketches this week since their challenge was to use Sweet n Sassy Stamps. I really enjoyed working with this sketch. This was also the first time I have entered this challenge, but it won't be my last. LOL

Have you ever had a card that you just didn't like from the time you started it until you finished it, walked away from it, come back and fell in love with it? Well that is what happened to me with this one. I can't for the life of me figure out why I didn't like it at first. Papers are Debbie Mumm. Colored with Copic Markers. Not sure who makes the poinsettia stamp. It had no name on it so I am guessing it was in the $1.00 bin at Pat Catans.

I have entered this one in Just Magnolia using their sketch this week. I have tweeked it a little to make my card look better and I used a rectangle card rather than a square one.

I think I have gone about this card-making business all backward for my granddaughter. First off I made her Christmas Card, now I am making her Halloween Card and next I plan to make her birthday card which falls on the day before Thanksgiving. It seems to be the way my mojo has been working lately. BACKWARDS!!! LOL

I saw this card design on SCS but I can't for the life of me remember who had it. I remember seeing several versions of it. So hopefully if you all want it you will be able to find it without much trouble.

I stamped my pumpkin on very orange cardstock with top boss, used holographic embossing powder and loved the affect. In one fold I stamped spider webs and embossed them with stardust embossing powder and the spiders I embossed with white diamonds embossing powder.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Penny Black Week 64 Has a Christmas theme this week. Since I have been very busy making Christmas cards, I thought one more can't hurt. These little snowmen are my favorite images for the holiday. They are so whimsical and fun!

Recipe:

Paterned Paper: DCWV

Image: Penny Black

Snow Flakes: Punch BunchMarkers:Copic

Ribbon and cardstock: My Stash

WOJ has this fabulous sketch by the lovely Bev this week. I just have to give it a try and I'm loving how it turned out. I wasn't sure how I am going to use this card so I left the text off and put ribbons in place of text.

Then Three Clover Designs has a sketch using primary colors so I am hoping my card fits that category. I am not sure if it was supposed to be school related or not, however if it was, we used to have to gather leaves from different trees and identify them for science class, so my card is gathering leaves.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

I had a few minutes to blog hop today and thought I would join in this challenge at Moving Along With The Times . I have never joined in a challenge here before, but thought I would use the great sketch and try my hand as some stitching. It's been a long time since I have picked up a needle and thread. Something I try hard not to do because then I feel guilty about not doing mending rather than crafting. LOL.

I don't often say anything about my website because most of the time it is a mess. If I don't mess it up myself then freewebs does it for me. LOL I really don't need their help I can do it all by myself. Anyway I have been asked by several people if I am going to make finished Christmas card packs again this year. At first I thought no, but then after so many requests I decided to make a few and list them on my web. I have been burning the midnight oil for the past week and a half. It is beginning to take it's toll on me. If you have time I would love you stop by look at my creations, leave a comment and if you want anything just let me know. I have also added one "make it" card kit as I have been asked to do those too. I started with a pretty basic one so any beginner can do it as well as the advanced cardmaker.

From time to time, I find items that I love to use and will share them for sell on my web. I love using the flat-back sticky pearls. You can find a list of all the colors that I TRY to keep on hand and sell them for just enough over cost to cover my expense. In the future I will be adding more things that I love to use at a reasonable price. As always my shipping is just what the postal service charges me.

Good Morning!Did this week fly by for you like it did for me? I don't know where the time went and I can't see one thing that I accomplished. LOL Actually where did the whole month of August go? Can you believe it is September?

It is time for another challenge from Charisma Cardz. I don't know about you, but I'm lovin' all of these wonderful challenges.

Thank you so much to all who entered our "Scrap It" Challenge this past week. Your page layout were FABULOUS! I got so much inspiration from viewing them. Of course scrapping is near and dear to my heart. It was my first love before cards!

This week our challenge has been set by the lovely Carly. The theme she has chosen is "Swirls & Curls". Had to really get my thinking cap on for this one, but it was so much fun. I can't wait to see what you all come up with.

Now to tell you the truth, this is a little bright and busy for me, but it was fun to think outside my comfort zone. I try to do that every once in awhile, just to make sure I can! I don't know why the flowers that Tilda is holding look purple, but they are blue. I think the camera doesn't like it when you use glossy accents. It seems to change the color.

I colored Tilda using my copic markers, then used glossy accents on her flowers to make them pop. Ran an oval mat through the cuttlebug swiss dot folder, but some swirls using the cuttlebug and sizzix die. Added flowers from Michaels and centers and brads from my stash. Paper is Basic Grey- Lime Ricky. I just love Tilda in her blue, green and yellow!